A.G.R.O. Suspension Team Procedural Protocols

The following hook placement, removal and clean-up protocols have been developed by A.G.R.O. team leaders to ensure personal safety, an optimal suspension experience, and maximum efficiency. Anyone working with A.G.R.O. during meets or special events will be expected to follow these protocols at all times. Your cooperation is appreciated!

Standard Procedure for Placement of Suspension Hooks

_1. Wash your hands!2. Don nitrile gloves, wipe down procedure tray (Mayo
tray) with hard surface disinfectant, and let sit for manufacturers
stated duration to achieve effectiveness.3. Change gloves and drape any areas that will be used
for piercing with disposable covers (procedural tray with tray cover,
chair with drape cloth, etc).4. Set-up your tray with all necessary items for
procedure as best to suit your needs. This set up should include, but
is not limited to: sterile prep-pack, sterile hooks, sterile needles.
5. Open sterile prep-pack completely. Apply a small
amount of Gentian Violet to the plastic see through side of the
envelope. Remember, a little of this goes a long way! Also, apply a
small amount of lube to the clear plastic side. Change gloves.6. Apply germicidal skin prep to the area to be pierced.
Apply the skin prep in a circular motion working from the center
outward. Using a sterile paper towel, remove any excess skin prep.
Change gloves.7. Using a sterile tooth pick and Gentian Violet mark
the placement for the hooks. Once all marks have been made, change
gloves.8. Have the suspendee sit or lie on designated
chair/table that has already been draped with a disposable barrier
drape cloth.9. Pinching the tissue marked in between your thumb,
index, and middle finger, roll the tissue back and forth, lightly
pulling up. This is to help in the separation of the tissue from
underlying structures such blood vessels, muscles, and nerves. THIS
STEP SHOULD ALWAYS HAPPEN!!10. Once you feel the tissue is ready to be pierced
place the hook and needle in your hand in the most ergonomic way for
you. Using the opposite hand pinch and roll tissue to place it in the
best position to hit both marks on the skin.11.Once you are in a good position to do your piercing
say, “SET!” that way everyone knows you are ready to do your
piercing. Once everyone has said “SET!”, the person in charge of
the piercing crew will have the suspendee take in a deep breath. On
the suspendee's exhale, the piercing will be done as quickly and
accurately as possible. This should be done with a smooth yet forced
push.12. When every hook has been sank into place, the
needles will be taken to the sharps container one at a time. There is
no need to crowd, as to prevent needle sticks!13. After all needles have been disposed of, designated
persons will place shackles on the eyes of the hooks. One designated
person will dispose of used paper products, etc and will wipe down
the procedure tray & chair/table used with hard surface
disinfectant in preparation for the next procedure. All others will
remove their gloves, and WASH their hands.14. Once all shackles are put into place, one designated
gloved person will escort the suspendee to the suspension rig, and
will stay with the suspendee until their suspension is complete. Your
duties during the suspension are to make sure that all gross amounts
of blood are controlled from the piercing wounds (this is commonly
referred to as “working bio on the floor”). Once the suspension
is complete you will be responsible for the suspendee getting back
the the cleanup area.

Standard Procedure for Hook Removaland Bio Clean-up/Containment

_1. Immediately following a suspension- SINK HOOKS
and bring the suspendee to clean-up area, DIRECT the suspendee
to where you want them to go (sit in a draped chair or stand here,
etc...)2. If there is running blood, CONTROL BLEEDING
asap w/dry sterile towel and light pressure to avoid getting it on
floor, all over them, etc. You can remove the hooks if it helps, or
leave them in. Always use sterile towels on all openings in the skin.
Regular towels can be used on places where the blood has run down,
but only where there is no open skin (back, hips, legs, etc).3. If you have not done so yet, REMOVE HOOK (drop
directly into hook box). If the blood is dried onto the hook, use a
direct application of surgical scrub or saline to loosen the dried
blood and facilitate quick removal. 4. Next you will need to cover the opening, and BURP
out any air and excess blood that has pooled under the skin. You can
do these one hook/area at a time. Burping will ensure that the
suspendee doesn't come back 20 minutes later with blood running out
from under the bandage. This will also help ease the amount of
soreness they feel the next day. DO NOT skip this step! It is
included to maximize efficiency. 5. CLEAN UP ENTIRE AREA with surgical scrub, as
well as any nearby areas that have dried blood. The idea is to get
ALL of the blood off of them- even if it has run down the entire
back! Never send your suspendee out into an event venue with blood
flaking off onto everything they come into contact with.6. RINSE AREA WELL! Use a saline saturated towel
to wipe off all surgical scrub and blood residue. If you do this
right- you may not need an alcohol swab, unless they are very hairy-
the hair tends to hold the moisture and soapy surgical scrub to the
skin, making bandage adhesion brief if not impossible. If you think
alcohol is necessary to save a bandage, then go for it. Alcohol swabs
are cheaper than repeat bandaging.7. Thoroughly pat the area DRY using a sterile
dry towel.8. Change gloves and BANDAGEappropriately. If
they bled a lot, then expect they may do it more and use a bandage
with a larger gauze section, or add a sterile non-stick gauze under a
tegaderm style bandage. If they bled very little, then use a smaller
bandage.There are a few IMPORTANT POINTS to remember when wroking in the
clean-up area:- NEVER bring contaminated towels, etc back to the
work table!!! N E V E R!!!It's just like in the piercing station...after we use a
needle, we DO NOT put it back on the tray. It goes straight to the
bio-hazard container. Anything you use on a bloody person should go
one of two places: bio-hazard or trash. It's optimal to
go from less contaminated to more contaminated, but never the other
way.-NEVER use a non-sterile item on an opening in the skin.-Always wear your full PPE (personal protective
equipment).-Always cover openings in the skin when applying
pressure.

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